Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

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St Arnaud Discovery Loops

St. Arnaud, Tasman

Submitted by Malcolm Law

Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Beginner

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I've done it Done

Open

Grunt Factor: 15 ?

Gnarl Factor: 23 ?

12.3km

310m

310m

746m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Front country - easily accessible

Combo

Undulating, some big hills

Native bush

Riverside

Lakeside

Run Makeup

10%
65%
20%
5%

Sealed Road

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Technical Single Track

Average Uphill Gradient: +5.9%

Average Downhill Gradient: -6.1%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

2:00

Slow

1:30

Moderate

1:00

Fast

From beside the Alpine Lodge follow the signposted trail to Kerr Bay via Black Valley Walk - a lovely warm-up alongside a beautiful stream. Very soon you'll be at Kerr Bay - turn left towards the campsite and pick up the trail entering the bush where there is a large information sign.

At the first junction head right, following the sign to Bellbird Walk and soon after take a left following signs for the Loop Track & St Arnaud Range Track. You now start a gentle climb.

At the next junction follow the sign to the St Arnaud Range Track and Loop Track, which continues uphill for about another 1k and then turn right on to Loop Track following the sign for Kerr Bay. This heads gently uphill for a short way before it starts sidling and then trending back down towards the lake shore.

At the bottom of the hill (Kerr Bay) turn right and run back along the Lakehead Track to the car park. You are now some 5k into your run. Follow the road over the wee bridge and then bear left across the grassy reserve, heading for a spot just left of the toilet block - this is the start of the Brunner Peninsula Nature Walk. Follow this for a mellow 3k to West Bay (keeping left at any junctions you see along the way)

At West Bay take a sharp right on to the road and follow for a couple of hundred metres to a grassy clearing on your right where the Moraine Walk heads off towards Lodge Road. Follow this trail through kanuka forest for about 1k, the last few hundred metres of which are parallel with, and close to, the main road. Look out for a sharp right turn signposted 'Black Hill Walk' and follow this uphill to the trig at the top.

A sweet short downhill then delivers you on to Lodge Road - turn left and follow this downhill to SH63 where you turn left again to run the short section of road back to the Alpine Lodge.

Abundant birdlife in the beautiful native bush around St Arnaud thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Rotoiti.

Plenty of roadside parking or, if you're going to have post-run refreshments at the Alpine Lodge they won't mind you parking there.

0 km

0 minutes

Unknown

No

Easy.

All junctions are well signposted.

Very patchy.

Short-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map.

There is water available from the toilet block at Kerr Bay but nowhere else on the trail.

Sections of the trail can be very muddy after heavy rain.

Nothing out of the ordinary

Alpine Lodge
St. Arnaud
http://www.alpinelodge.co.nz
Great food, beer & coffee and warm hospitality. The open fire is particularly welcoming on cold days.

Trail Legend

Mike Tennent

Mike Tennent

has completed St Arnaud Discovery Loops once in the last year.

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Trail Reviews

Beautiful!

Joe Benbow

April 23, 2022

Great run despite wasp sting at midpoint. Technical under foot through the first loop track then nice undulating trail around Lake. Too many beersies over xmas meant I ran out of steam and walked up Black hill at the end.

Angus Neill

January 28, 2021

Easy trails around the lake. The Black hill loop had some real diverse running, unfortunately no view from the top. The loop track to the east of Kerr bay was a gem, never to steep or technical was a really nice bush run.

Sam Mowat

January 17, 2020

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